Exploring ServiceNow Studio

---
title: Exploring ServiceNow Studio
description: ServiceNow Studio is a unified development environment where platform developers create, modify, and deploy apps. Use ServiceNow Studio to manage app files, edit metadata, and package changes for deployment without switching between tools.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/exploring-servicenow-studio.html
release: australia
product: ServiceNow Studio Classic
classification: servicenow-studio-classic
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 4
breadcrumb: [ServiceNow Studio, Build, AI Workflow Factory Prime, Agentic app development, Building applications]
---

# Exploring ServiceNow Studio

ServiceNow Studio is a unified development environment where platform developers create, modify, and deploy apps. Use ServiceNow Studio to manage app files, edit metadata, and package changes for deployment without switching between tools.

## What can you do in ServiceNow Studio?

ServiceNow Studio provides a single environment for app development, from creation to deployment. Use it to:

-   Build, manage, and deploy custom, base system, or global applications and global metadata records, all without switching between tools. You can also customize store apps.
-   Search for and edit any type of metadata record using the Navigator panel taxonomy.
-   Package app changes for deployment using update sets, pipelines, or the Application Repository.

## ServiceNow Studio features and benefits

Use ServiceNow Studio to build, manage, and deploy apps faster in a single development environment. It provides the following features for admins and delegated developers.

\[Omitted image "sn-studio-features-benefits-as1.png"\] Alt text: ServiceNow Studio offers a unified experience for all development activities on the ServiceNow AI Platform.

-   AI-native design: Use the generative and agentic AI capabilities in ServiceNow Studio to build apps faster and extend custom applications with AI. For more information, see [AI tools and files in ServiceNow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/working-with-now-assist-tools-sn-studio.md).
-   Build Agent: Use Build Agent, an autonomous AI agent, to create and update applications in ServiceNow Studio. For more information, see [Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/build-agent-in-servicenow-studio.md).
-   Integrated builders: Access low-code builders available in the ServiceNow AI Platform, including Table Builder and flows in Workflow Studio, alongside app development tools. For more information, see [Integrated development tools for ServiceNow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/integrated-development-tools.md).
-   AI and code search: Search for any application or metadata record in your instance using AI Search and standard code search. For more information, see [Find an app or app file using Search](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/qs-find-app-app-file-using-search.md) and [Find an app or app file using the Navigator panel](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/qs-find-app-app-file-using-navigator-panel.md).
-   Accelerated deployment: Create and package apps for deployment using update sets, pipelines, or the Application Repository without leaving ServiceNow Studio. For more information, see [Update sets in ServiceNow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/working-with-update-sets-in-servicenow-studio.md) and [Application Repository in ServiceNow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/working-with-the-app-repo-in-servicenow-studio.md).
-   Choose your development experience: Switch between development environments using the experience switcher in ServiceNow Studio to use the best tool for each stage of your project. For more information, see [Change your development experience in ServiceNow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/change-your-development-experience.md).
-   Create apps and files: Create apps and files in any scope that you have access to edit, including the global scope. For more information, see [Create an application in ServiceNow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/create-an-application-in-servicenow-studio.md) and [Create an app file in ServiceNow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/sn-studio-create-app-file.md).
-   Global and custom scope: Open and edit files of any scope you have access to, including global and custom files. The scope switches automatically when you switch between open files in different applications. For more information, see [Open apps and app files across scopes in ServiceNow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-development/servicenow-studio-classic/qs-open-apps-files-across-scopes.md).

## Helpful resources

Use these ServiceNow resources to learn more about ServiceNow Studio and app development:

-   **\[Omitted image "dcx-icon-community.svg"\]ServiceNow Community**

    [The fastest way to learn Build Agent prompting? Ask Build Agent.](https://www.servicenow.com/community/now-assist-for-creator-articles/the-fastest-way-to-learn-build-agent-prompting-ask-build-agent/ta-p/3533544)

-   **\[Omitted image "bus-video-play.svg"\] Alt text: Video**

    Watch [App Engine Academy: Platform capabilities and data modeling for custom applications](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3MClPNjBzI).

-   **\[Omitted image "bus-video-play.svg"\] Alt text: Video**

    Watch [App Engine Academy: Using ServiceNow Studio for Multi-Level Table Inheritance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOz5a-Dvi5Y).

-   **\[Omitted image "bus-video-play.svg"\] Alt text: Video**

    Watch [App Engine Academy \#1: Custom App Development Best Practices](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--nkVtilSEY)

-   **\[Omitted image "dcx-icon-community.svg"\]ServiceNow Community**

    Learn [Instance help for your personal developer instance \(PDI\)](https://www.servicenow.com/community/instance-help/ct-p/instance-help)

-   **\[Omitted image "dcx-icon-community.svg"\]ServiceNow Social Ambassadors Program**

    [ServiceNow Social Ambassadors Program training](https://servicenow-socialambassadors.sprinklr.com/content/ADVOCACY_205_68d30a63ee11675df8b18728?sourceType=ACCOUNT)